Alumni Choir concert at BC

Item by Mary K. Heatwole

The Bridgewater College Alumni Choir will present a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren.

The Alumni Choir was co-founded by Dr. Jesse Hopkins, the Edwin L. Turner Distinguished Professor of Music at Bridgewater College, and Jonathan Emmons, a 2005 graduate. Emmons will serve as accompanist on organ and piano.

The 24-member choir is directed by Hopkins, Emmons, David Tate, a 1971 graduate from Verona, Ryan Keebaugh, class of 2002 from Middletown, Joel Bremner, a 2006 graduate from Troutville, Holly Dickerson, class of 1999 from Shenandoah, and Jolene Flory, a 2003 graduate from Waynesboro.

The choir will perform works by Ernani Aguiar, Emma Lou Diemer, Gerald Finzi, Orlando Gibbons, Herbert Howells, Arvo Pärt and John Tavener.

Abigail Hostetter, a member of the class of 2006 from Bridgewater; Benjamin Heizer, a rising junior at Bridgewater from Staunton; Dickerson and Tate will serve as soloists for Herbert Howells “Requiem.” Phyllis Wine, a 1974 graduate, and Andrea Nolley, class of 1976, both from Harrisonburg, will be the soloists for “How Can I Keep from Singing” arranged by Ronald Staheli.

Hopkins is a 1970 graduate of Bridgewater College and holds a master of music education degree from James Madison University and a doctorate in choral music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He joined the Bridgewater faculty in 1977 and serves as chair of the Department of Music.

In addition to his duties at the College, he is music director at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren and a frequent clinician/guest conductor for school and church events, including the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference on five occasions, including the 2008 Annual Conference which celebrated the Church’s 300th anniversary.

Emmons earned a master of music degree in choral conducting from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He is director of choirs and college organist at Wesley College, and is director of music at Wesley United Methodist Church, both in Dover, Del.

The concert is open to the public at no charge.